Yellowstone Geyser Belches Up Tourist Trash

For over a century, tourists have been throwing coins into the Ear Spring Geyser in Yellowstone National Park. Every 50 years or so, it burps them back up. Ear Spring erupted last month, hurling a hunk of junk 30 feet into the air.

"The eruption ejected not only rocks, but also material that had fallen or been thrown into the geyser in years past, like coins, old cans, and other human debris," Yellowstone officials reported on Facebook. "The last known similar-sized eruption of the spring was in 1957."

Along with coins and cans, the Ear Springs eruption also regurgitated a bandana, two cell phone cases, a cement block, a hearing aid, a pacifier, and a plastic funnel.

"Foreign objects can damage hot springs and geysers," the Park Service said. "The next time Ear Spring erupts we hope it's nothing but natural rocks and water."